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Poor young Calgarians will benefit from a pilot project that will see them get a discounted monthly bus pass starting in March.

The Community and Protective Services committee decided Wednesday to reduce the monthly bus pass of low-income youths from the regular $57.50 to $44, the same rate adult Calgarians living below the poverty line pay.

Doug Morgan, director of Calgary Transit, said they estimate about 10,000 poor youths would take advantage of the program which could cost up to an estimated $2 million.

Bureaucrats suggested to the committee that the city start a pilot discounted fares for poor out-of-school youths, but Ald. Gael MacLeod suggested to expand it to include all low-income youths whether they’re in school or not.

Officials estimated that the original plan could only cost between $300,000 and $500,000 with an expected participation of a maximum of 4,000 youths.

Ald. Brian Pincott supported MacLeod’s suggestion arguing that the city must cover all existing gaps in providing affordable transit to everyone.

“I think that it is important that we support anybody living below the poverty line,” he said.

Last week, council decided to relax rules on who qualifies for the monthly low-income transit pass, which means transit could see a spike in the number of people buying the $44 discounted fare.

Morgan expressed concerns that with more discounted fare options being offered transit’s ability to make money is diminishing.

“As we make it more affordable we don’t collect as many fares, so that would require the taxpayers to fill the gap with additional property taxes in order to support the same level of transit service,” he said.

Ald. Peter Demong didn’t like committee’s decision because he wanted a more definitive number how much the program would cost.

“We haven’t done any research on how much it’s going to cost,” he said.

Demong said Calgary Transit “has been put between a rock and hard place.”

Lucy Miller, president and CEO of United Way Calgary applauded the committee’s decision, saying it’s an example of city politicians, administration and the community working together to do the right thing.

The pilot program, which still needs council’s approval, will run from March to November.

City of Calgary committee approves low-income youth transit pass

Low-income youths needing to take the transit will get a discounted fare starting in March.

The Community and Protective Services committee has endorsed a plan to give poor Calgarians between the ages of 7 and 17 the same monthly bus pass rate of $44, which is what adults living below the poverty line are charged.